Phrygian Mode – The Third Position of the Major Scale

ByDanny Cruz

The Phrygian Mode is based around the third note of the major scale. In the key of G, this 3rd note is B. So this will be played as the B Phrygian Mode. To play the B Phrygian Mode you will start with the first note at the 6th string 7th fret. The Phrygian Mode sounds exotic and heavy. It’s a very popular mode for many heavy metal bands like Metallica and Slayer.

The reason for this is the following: Even though we are calling these shapes by their mode name, they can be described as two separate things.

If you play this shape, as a major scale, in the key of G for example, you’re simply playing the major scale starting in a different position. However, with a chord progression built out of this scale, using the first note as the root itself, you can get that Phrygian sound.

The sound can be described a minor, dark and exotic. And that makes sense given it comes out of the third degree of the major scale, which happens to be a minor.

Danny Cruz

Danny Cruz is creative designer and web developer who has been playing music since 1996. It all started with drums. One thing led to another and a lot of time has been productively spent on guitar and bass since. He started SixStringSensei.com in 2005 to document his trajectory on guitar.

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